OLD Walcot residents met at Immanuel Church to discuss major reconstruction plans for Upham Road.

Having put up with bumpy journeys and shaking houses for several years their wait for action is nearly over.

Swindon Borough Council is staggering work to the road in three phases to minimise disruption in the area. During that time buses will be diverted and residents living along the road will be unable to use their drives. Parking restrictions along useable sections of the road will be lifted, however.

Resident Cyril Freeman said: "It's been a long time coming. The last few months at the beginning of the year my house has been shaking. Even in the night I used to be woken up by the shaking of the road from lorries and buses. You could just feel it.

"It's going to be inconvenient but I know that it has to be done because it's in a hell of a state."

Project leader Keturah Carter-Watts said: "It's short term pain for long term gain.

"Phase one is from just after Burford Avenue to just before Brixham Avenue so that will mean a full 24/7 road closure. Phase two will again be a 24/7 closure from Drove Road to just after Burford Avenue. Phase three is budget-dependent but that will be lane closures."

"We're hoping that foundation work for phase one and two will help the road last 40 years."

Each of the two main phases are expected to take five weeks to finish. Works are due to begin on phase one in mid-June, followed by phase two during the school holidays. The budget-dependent phase three, which covers minor road resurfacing rather than full-depth foundation work, is to be completed alongside the first two phases.

Old Walcot woman Pat Wallington told the Adver: "The road definitely needs it, but it's going to cause a lot of disruption because there are a lot of elderly people living in the vicinity and they rely on the 17 bus and that's the only bus route there.

"They'll have to walk all the way down to Queen's Drive for a bus. For a lot of people it will be impossible."

Phil Paton, governor of Holy Rood School, said: "It's great news. We've only owned a house here for a couple of years but we know what this road's been like, it's been pretty awful. I'd like to think everyone's happy. It's well overdue."

Construction near the local school has been timed to coincide with the school holidays. The council says it will post updates about its plans on the Swindon.gov website.

Ward councillor Emma Bushell said: "We're pleased with the council that this is being done because residents have been asking quite vociferously for it.

"There will inevitably be things that come out of these discussions that officers haven't thought about."